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The citizens’ initiative “Stop the new LRA building” is against the currently planned new district office building. The initiators are currently busy collecting signatures. © Hascher Jehle Architecture
The big collecting began on September 28th: collecting signatures from district citizens for the citizens’ initiative that wants to stop the new building of the district office. The citizens’ initiative was able to enjoy great success after just a few days.
District – This morning a small sign at Penzinger Feld caught the attention of drivers: On it you can see a castle, covered by a bright red prohibition sign, above it the sentence: “Are you in favor of stopping the new building of the district office at Penzinger Feld?” – Sign the citizens’ initiative now.” The official poster of the citizens’ initiative “Stop LRA new construction” in Landsberg am Lech is ready. Hans-Jürgen Schulmeister and Christian Loderer proudly presented it. They are the spokespersons for the citizens’ initiative and provided information about the current status of citizens’ requests.
Landsberg citizens’ initiative “Stop LRA new construction” gives an update – at least 4,800 signatures required
The initiative has already collected over 1,000 signatures. In order for the citizens’ petition to be successful, the organizers need at least 4,800 signatures, because five percent of the citizens in the district who are eligible to vote must provide a signature. Schoolmasters and Loderer are sure that they will sign against a new building that will primarily burden the citizens.
The costs of the new building have more than tripled from originally less than 40 million euros to around 120 million euros, according to the citizens’ initiative website. Due to the district’s financial situation, the construction had to be financed exclusively through loans. The initiative calculates: “The total costs of the new building, including the accrued interest, will be approximately 220 million euros.” Costs that would be passed on to the municipalities via the district levy. “Given the financial challenges many communities are currently facing, such an additional burden cannot be justified. The district levy is currently 53 percent. This is one of the highest rates in Bavaria.”
Hans-Jürgen Schulmeister (l.) and Christian Loderer from the citizens’ initiative want to stop the new building of the district office at Penzinger Feld. © kb
But it’s not just the costs that concern the initiators, but also the location where the new building should be. “Furthermore, the consumption of the best arable land in southern Bavaria will be promoted with a newly built district office and the associated parking garage. We think it makes sense to carry out a thorough examination of whether alternative locations would be more resource-efficient.”
The trigger for the establishment of the citizens’ initiative was the district council meeting in July, at which a motion from the BayernParty (BP), which requested a planning freeze, was voted on. With a narrow majority of 31:28, the committee spoke out against the BP application. Schulmeister described this as a “controversial” result and doubted whether such a vote would be representative of the district’s citizens. Those responsible then took action – and started the signature campaign at the end of September.
All signatures by the end of October
“We have only received positive feedback so far,” says Schulmeister. People approached the citizens’ initiative at the stands and even stood in line. “Usually you have to capture people when you advertise,” says Schulmeister with a grin. He is therefore confident that the required signatures will arrive by the end of the month.
“The citizens’ initiative is not completely against a new building – we don’t want to prevent anything,” emphasizes Schulmeister. “We want the current plans to be stopped and the whole thing to be rethought.” Do you need so much office space, do you even need a new district office? If yes, what type of construction? And what to do with it? Does it really have to be built at Penzinger Feld, where the valuable soil is located? Questions that need to be clarified – “and that is our intention”.
What is not the intention of the citizens’ initiative: “We don’t want to build a front between the district administrator and the citizens. It is important to us that this takes place in a proper, democratic manner.” Schulmeister also has high hopes for the savings workshops. “If they find a good solution in the workshop, then it’s done for us.” And if there’s no solution, it’ll just go to a referendum. “Then we have to get back on the road – and that’s what we’ll do.”
Citizens’ initiative and decision
With a citizens’ petition, citizens can apply for a referendum on district matters. The number of signatures required depends on the number of eligible voters. The signed citizens’ petition must be submitted to the district. Then the district council must decide on the request. If the committee says no, the representatives of the citizens’ petition can file a lawsuit. If a referendum is admissible, a referendum will be held on the question unless the district council itself decides on the measure requested in the referendum. The question posed in the referendum is decided according to the majority of votes cast if this majority meets the necessary quorum for approval. The number of votes required for this depends on the population of the district.
There are over 30 people behind the citizens’ initiative “Stop LRA New Construction”. Schulmeister and Loderer speak of a daily effort of five to six hours for their cause. The response from citizens is good, but the bureaucracy is making life difficult for the initiative. Some signatures on the pieces of paper are invalid because the place of residence of the person signing and the municipality in which the list is available must match. In Landsberg, however, there are lists for several communities, explains Schulmeister.
Because some votes may be invalid, more than 4,800 signatures are needed ‘to be on the safe side’. There is also support from some mayors in the district, such as Albert Thurner (Vilgertshofen), Robert Sedlmayr (Geltendorf) and Thomas Salzberger (Kaufering). They displayed the lists in the town halls. The other community leaders were also written to and asked for this opportunity.
They recently received a message from the legal supervisory authority about this, confirms district office spokesman Wolfgang Müller. It says: “In comparison to referendums, the display of signature lists as part of citizens’ initiatives is generally not intended. However, the display would not be inadmissible under local law.” Nevertheless, it is viewed critically, “since the office premises may not be used for purposes other than those motivated by party and local politics.” The municipality would thus encourage the collection of signatures, “even though this is according to the According to the legislative intention, it should only take place in the social area.” With the interpretation in the municipality’s business premises, the impression could arise that the objective of the citizens’ initiative is being promoted ex officio, which could provoke corresponding protests from opponents of the citizens’ initiative.
In addition, the municipality must take the following into account: If it allows the interpretation despite these “legal concerns”, future initiators are entitled to equal treatment based on the principle of “self-binding of the administration”. The lists would also have to be in the town halls for future citizens’ initiatives.
“Whether they do it is up to the mayor,” explains Schulmeister. The initiative no longer has anything to do with that. She continues to work on ‘face-to-face’ signature collection in the communities. Tomorrow, Thursday, for example, there will be a stand for the initiative on Landsberg’s main square. And also on the recently created one Website you can download the signature list.
The stands of the citizens’ initiative
Landsberg:
October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ludwigstrasse / Hellmairplatz stairs
October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Wetterhäuschen – Karolinenbrücke
October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Salzgasse/Herkomerstraße
October 4th from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Weekly market at Fuggerplatz, Purchase ring
October 4th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Pfatischer Bakery, Meanwhile
October 5th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: CAP market, Penzing
October 5th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Pfatischer bakery, Meanwhile
